The two stakes on grass June 14 on Haskell Preview Day at Monmouth Park belonged to trainer Chad Brown. The five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, whose stable is known for its dominance on turf, won the Monmouth Stakes with Redistricting before running 1-2 with Whiskey Decision and Maggie Go later in the Eatontown Stakes (G3T).
Both races on Saturday carried a purse of $150,000, with the Monmouth Stakes an open race at 1 1/8 miles and the Eatontown a 1 1/16-mile contest for fillies and mares.
A ground-saving trip from jockey Samy Camacho was key for Whiskey Decision in the Eatontown. Stalking the leaders, she rallied inside a weakening leader in Damaso leaving the second turn. Whiskey Decision took command in the early stretch and gradually pulled clear by two lengths.
A pace-pressing Maggie Go, favored at 6-5, repelled a bid from Ozara to hold the place.
The winner ran 1 1/16 miles on rain-softened turf rated as "good" in 1:44.81, capped by a final sixteenth in :06.21. Splits set by Damaso were :24:39, :49.23, and 1:13.93. Whiskey Decision paid $10 for a $2 win wager.
Saturday's race marked Whiskey Decision's first start for Brown after she went 3-0-0 in seven starts last year for trainer Arnaud Delacour. The Eatontown was her first triumph at the graded level.
Brown's assistant, Luis Cabrera, said she had trained well for her first start since November. "So I thought even off the layoff she would be ready," he said.
Whiskey Decision, a 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief , races for her breeders, Frederick Hertrich III & John D. Fielding, and was produced from the Distorted Humor mare Funny Song.
Into Mischief, a six-time leading general sire and with a sizeable lead in the standings this year through June 14, stands for $250,000 at Spendthrift Farm.
Video: Eatontown S. (G3T)
Redistricting Romps in Monmouth Stakes
In the Monmouth Stakes, Redistricting took an early lead and never looked back, winning by five lengths.
From post 2, Redistricting immediately took charge, leading by about a length ahead of his competitors Highestdistinction and Izzy d'Oro through the opening quarter-mile. Redistricting separated himself from his five rivals in the stretch, taking a 2 1/2-length lead en route to the victory. This is the third win of Redistricting's nine-race career.
He raced 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.78 after establishing fractions of :24.98, :49.14, and 1:13.66.
This marked eight wins since 2017 for Brown in the Monmouth Stakes, which was downgraded from a grade 3 to a listed stakes this year by the American Graded Stakes Committee.
Redistricting was an overwhelming favorite at 3-10 odds, having most recently run a close sixth in the May 3 Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs. He returned $2.60 for a $2 win bet.
"He ran a good race at Churchill Downs; this was an easier race for him," winning jockey Flavien Prat said. "I think he really liked having a little moisture in the turf. He broke well, and he was comfortable, so I just let him relax on the lead."
Redistricting earned his first win since a Oct. 28, 2023, allowance race at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Following Redistricting were Otago and Atlast, who finished second and third, respectively.
Bred in Great Britain, Redistricting is owned by Klaravich Stables and is a 5-year-old gelded son of Kingman . His career earnings now total $285,750 with his win in the Monmouth Stakes.
